Delivery wagon



Aug.` 7, 1928.

C. W. PEELLE DELIVERY- WAGON Filed Dec. 12, 1924 (wwf lll

titl

Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATE 1,680,027 PATENT oFFlcE.

CHARLES W. PEELLE, 0F NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOR- T0 THE PELL COMPANY, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CGRPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DELIVERY WAGON.

Application led December 12, 1924. Serial No. 755,444.

My invention relates to delivery wagons, and more particularly to a construction thereof by which the loadingn and unloadingr ot the wagon is facilitated.

ln the transportation ot bread and other bakery products, it is not only essential that the delivery wagons be loaded to their full capacity in. order to ensure economy in the delivery ot such products, but the construction of the wagon must be such as to ensure sanitary conditions both in the wagon and in the handling;l ot the Igoods.

Erelid, rolls and cakes, while stored in boxes before being placed upon the delivery wagons, are, when making deliveries coininonly removed from these boxes and placed in baskets of a smaller capacity than the box. ln some instances, the wrapped bread or other products are piled directly in the wagon without using;` such bonesn 0 For loading' and unloading;1 the wagon, it is necessary to provide a wagon top which is so constructed as to facilitate the placing1 olA the bread or the boxes in every portion thereof, While affording' independent sup-l ports tor dillercnt suporimiviosed rows oi' bread or boxes.

l'lcretolOre, it has been the common practice to provide the wagon top with side cleats, and place upon these cleats wooden planks, inserted and removed from the wagon as required or as n ot required. The use of these planks however, has serious objections, since they are frequently lostso as not to be available when required, and in unloading` a wagon the drivers sometimes piace these planks upon sidewalks or streets, or in other unsanitary places, so that their subsequent use is attended with likelihood of spoilage to food stuffs subsequent-ly packed thereon. y

'lllith the above conditions in mind, I have devised a delivery wagon enibodyhig;` ther in a supportinni structure so constructed as to torni a inseparable part oit the wagon top while, beine' capable et being); extended or collapsed in a mann/arto permit access to every portion ot'` the wagon when loading' and unloading,` same. The construction of this supporting' structure is such, that it may be readily kept clean,` and besutliciently rigid to support any load required ot it, and may be partially extended or collapsed without intenteringl with any part olf' the load siiipiorted by the structure. Furthermore, it it not desired to use the structure, .it may, in its entirety, be. so positioned as to leave the entire body of the wagon free and clear of obstruction, this condition also being; utilized to facilitate the loading` oi the wagon close to the t'ront o'l the body.

The invention consists primarily in a delivery Wagon embodying therein a body having' a closed bottom, sides and top, runways extendingr horizontally from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear ot said bodv. above the bottom and within and adjacent opposite sides thereo'l, means tor supportingl a load above the bottom ot the wagon body coinprising a. plurality of flat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate overlzulpinpT and restino; upon the adjacent plate toward the rear ot the wagon body. a flexible nie1nber attached to the front of the wagon body and engaging' said plates respectively` whereby movement of the rearward of said plates rearwardly of the wagon body will cause movement ot' the adjacent plate. and a lat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, said flexible member preventinglr removal oll said slidable plates and per1nittingr them to be telcscoped in relation to cach other and to said nonslidable plate: and in such other novel features ol construction and con'iliination ot parts as are. hereiiuiflter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring' the the` drawings,

Fig'. l is a perspective view et a delivery wagon embodying' my invention. portions ot the top being` broken away to disclose the interior construction thereof; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical section ot' the wagon top upon a larger scale.

Lilie letters relier to like parts in both of said views.

In the einbodinicnt ot the invention shown in the drawings, o indicates the body ot a delivery wagon which in ay be ol any desired construction, although ordinarily such wagons are provided with a hinged tail board and a hinged closure ci above said tail board. The seat ot the driver is shown at d, and a partition in the rear of the seat may be used or not as desired.

Secured to the stanchions at opposite sides of the wagon body are horizontally extending1 runways e and positioned above the wagon floor a distance sufficient toA permit the storage of boXes below the level of said runways.

Each of these runways c and f is formed of a Continuous length of light angle iron, the'vertieally extending flange being utilized for securing the runways to the stanchions of the wagon body, and the other flange eX- tending horizontally inwardly of the wagon body, to form runways upon which suitable supporting plates are slidably mounted while forming ya support for said slidable plates and also for a plate or plates having no movement along said runways. The horizontal flange of said angle irons e and f are eut away adjacent each end, and the vertical flange bent at an abrupt angle as indicated at c and e2 to form stops which will preventexce'ss movement of said plates. A portion of the angle iron broken away, thus disclosing but a single end 7' thus turned, it beingnnderstood that the rear end of said angle iron f is formed in the same manner as the corresponding end of the angle iron e. The angle irons e and f flanges L and i by engagement with merchandise upon the plate h, prevent Inovement of this plate when it is desired to slide the plate g/ thereunder.

This construction permits the plates y, 7L and to be made of fairly light stock, while still having sulliient rigidity and strength to sustain any load which they may be called upon to bear.

ln addition to the reinforcin(r effects secured by the flanges g2 and l1?, I employ these flanges for the purpose of )ermanently connecting the plates g and with each other, with the plate vf, and with the wagon body, to prevent the relnoval of any of these plates and to maintain them in a proper relative position to ensure and permit the telescopic action above referred to. This means consists of a flexible member as the chain 7' secured to the wagon body, carrying stops j-j2 adapted to engage the flange 7b2 and the flange (/2 respectively. Said chain passes through openings in said flanges respectively.

By this construction, when extending the areA of a length to extend from adjacent the.. plate support within the wagon, as the. lplate seat (Z toV adjacent the tail board Y), thus forming supports for a substantially continuous transverse partition or shelving.

In the form of the invention shown, I employ three plates g, 'fr and t', two of which, g and lr, are slide-.ble upon the runways, in relation to each other, and to the third plate The plate 7L, as to the edge thereof toward the rear of the wagon, overlaps and rests upon the plate (o, and as to the edge thereof toward the plate i, passes beneath,

-or underlies, said plate fi, thus permitting' the plates ',f/ and /L to be telescoped with relation to each other and to the plate yz' to bring all of these plates within the compass of a single plate as the wagon is being unleaded, and permitting,access of the driver to every portion of the wagon'. This collapsing of the plate structure .ma be gradually accomplished the load removedA from the Y wagon, and as access is required to different s of the wagon body during unloading.

To impart rigidity tothe extensible and collapsible plate structure without interfering in any way with the free movement of the separate plates, l form downturned flanges 'dh-gg along the forward and rear edges of th'eplate (,l. The plate 7Lv is provided with and vupturned flange L along the edge there ofadjacent kthe .plate g, and a downturned flange v71,2- .along the edge thereof adjacent the pla-te The plate 2' is provided with two upturned flanges z'f-z'f. The opposite ends of the downturned flanges y, g2 and .712 are cutv away that these flanges may slide freely between the inturned flanges of the angle irons e and f.

Y By this construction, I not only impart rigidity to these plates, but the upturned g moves a distance equaling the width of the plate l1., the stop j engages the flange h2 and draws the plate ll towards the rear with the plate y. then collapsing the support, however, this chain has no function. lf desired, the chain y' may be used to draw the plates y and ,71. toward the rear of the wagon body, with the plate z/ overlaying the plate (f.

The plate i is hinged at u--V adjacent the seat (Z, its hinges bein;r so .set as to permit said plate to be turned upwardly, together with the plates f/ and l1, so as to expose. the, portion of the wagon body beneath the plate. and permit the placing of boxes under .s'aid plate. or the use of the wa 'on for larger merchandise when so desired, The flange i? cutaway to aommoalate the hingesy a-a.

Adjacent the forward end of the wagon, and pivotally mounted upon one of the stanchions, is a latch member lu,y having a tongue m projecting inwardly of the wagon so that it may be interposed in the path ol movement of the plates y, 71y and i. when the latter are folded upwardly as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and thus prevent these. plates from falling to upon the runways formed by the angle irons.

In loading a wagon embodying my invention, the plates g, zA and i are telescoped, and`r if desired, folded upwardly as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Boxes containing bread or other similar merchandise. are then placed upon the wagon floor below the space which will be occupied by the plate The plates g, tand i are then turned downwardly, the lock lever mn being raised so as to move the projection m thereof from the path of `movementeof said plates. Boxes are lll) liz-r llltl Al El then piled upon the plate vi, thus loading the vehicle from the floor to adjacent the top of the wagon body. Boxes are then loaded upon the floor olf the wagon below the space) which will be occupied by the plate L, and the plates g' and la, drawn toward the rear of the wagon by means of the chain j until the plate lt is exposed to its full extent so as to permit the loading` of boxes upon this plate; When the lull load for this portion oi' the wagon has been placed in position, the plate g/ is drawn toward the rear to the full extent, the enlargement or ball limiting* the rearward movement o'l this plate. rlhe final licor load is then slid along; the floor of the wagon beneath this plate, although the boxes constituting this load may be placed upon the floor of the wagon before this plate g is moved as above described. The loading` is completed by placing boxes upon the plate g, bel'ore closingl the tail board and the back upper cover.

This manner of loading permits the convenient handling of all of the merchandise, and the utilization of the entire capacity of the wagon body. y

In unloading, the boxes are irst removed trom the plate g and then this plate is telescoped with relation to the plate It to permit access to the boxes below the plate g. As heretofore stated, the flanges L and z" will prevent movement of the plate with the plate g while the wagon is loaded. rllhe load. is similarly removed from the plate zl and from beneath this plate, both plates g and t being telescoped with relation to the plate at'ter removing the load from said plate 7L. This permits the driver to have tree access to the portion of the load upon and beneath the plate e', all three plates being turned upwardly it desired, when removingr the load from beneath the plate 'a'.

The construction heretofore described not only thus greatly facilitates the loading and unloading' oit a wagon, but the use of the flexible chain y' prevents the removal of any plate from the wagon while permitting the lfree telescoping` action both in loading and unloading` same.

The installation of these plates is simple, and their use ensures sanitary conditions since they cannot be brought into contact with dirt upon the street-s, which may occur when boards are used to separate the upper and lower tiers ot boxes constituting the load. Furthermore by the folding oi' the plates upwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the body of the wagon may be used for carrying barrels, or other materials having' larger bulk than the ordinary bread and caire boxes, while giving the 'l`ull capacity of the wagon body for this purpose.

lt is not my intention tolimit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such maybe varied without departing,- from the spirit and scope oi' the invention.

Having; described the invention, what l claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

l. A, delivery wagon embodying therein a body having; a closed bottom, sides and top, runways extending horizontally from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear ot said body, above the bottoni and within and ad jacent opposite sides thereof, means i'or supporting a load above the bottom oit' (he wagon body comprisinga plurality of flat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate overlapping and resting upon the adjacent plate toward the rear oi the wagon body, a flexible member attached to the 'l'ront of the wagon body and engaging said plates respectively` whereby movement ot the rear ward of said plates rearwardly ot the wagon body will cause movement of the adjacent plate, and a dat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, said flexible memberl preventing ren'ioval oit said slidable plates and permitting them to be teleseoped in relation to each other and to said non-slidable plate. Y

2. A delivery wagon embodying therein a body having a closed bottorm sides and top, runways extending horizontally from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear or' said body above the bottom and with in and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, means for suppm'tinfg a load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising1 a plurality of llat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate overlapping and resting,v upon the adjacent plate toward the'rear or' the wagon body, a flexible men'iber attached to the lront of the wagon body and eiigraginp; said plates respectively, whereby movement ot the rear ward ol said plates rearwardly ot the wagon body will cause movement o'll the adjacent plate, a flat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, means whereby said nonslidable plate is hinged in relation to the wagon body, the flexible member prei/entine4 removal oit said slidabl@ plates and permit-r tingr them to be telescoped in .relation to each other and to said nonslidable plate and to have movement with said slidable plates upon its hinges, and a latch member adapted to hold said'plates when the)7 have been moved about the hinges o't said nonslidablo plate.

3. A delivery wan-'va einbmlyirrg' theriin a body having a closed bottom, si and top, runways `entendidor horizontally from adjacent-the front to adjacent the rear of said body above the bottom and within and adiacent the opposite sides thereon` means for supporting a load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising a plurality oit flat plates slidable upon said runways, cach plate overlapping and resting,l

Sis

upon the adjacent plate toward the rear of the wagon body, Vthe underlying portion of each of said slidable plates having a downturned flange having an opening therethrough, a flexible member attached to the front of the wagon body and passing through the openings in said flanges respectively, stops carried by said i flexible member in engaging relation with said downturned flanges, .whereby movement of Vthe rearward of said plates rearwardly of the wagon body will cause movementof the adjacent plate, and a flat plate nonslidably supported withinthe wagon body, said flexible member preventing removal of said slidable plates` and permitting them to be teleseoped in relation to eachother and to said nonslidable plate. l

4. A delivery wagon embodying therein a body having a. closed bottom, sides and top, runways extendinghorizontally from adjarcent the front -to adjacent the rear of said body above the. bottom and within and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, means for .supporting a load above the bottom of the wagon body eoi'npr-ising a plurality of flat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate i body, means whereby said nonsl'idable plate is hinged in relation to the wagon body,

said flexible memberpreventing removal of said slidable plates and permitting them to be telescoped in relation to each other and vto said nonslidable plate and to have movenient with said nonslidable plate upon its fhinges, and a latch kmember adapted to hold said plates when'they have been moved about the. hinges of said nonshdable plate.

A deliif'erywagon embodying` therein a body havingr a closed bottom, sides and top,

runways extendingT from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear of'said body above .the

bottoni and within and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, said runways being formed of angle. iron, one of the flanges of which extendshorizontally, and the vertical flanges of which extend beyond, and are turned at an` angle across said horizontal flange, means forfsupportinga load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising a plurality of flat plates slidable uponsaid runways, each 'f' plate Voverlapping and resting upon the kad-V jacent plate toward the rear of the wagon, `a flexible member attached to the front of the'wagon body and engaging said plates respectively, whereby movement of the rearward of said plates rearwardly of the wagon body will cause movement of the adjacent plate, and a flat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, said flexible member preventing removal of said slidable plates in relation to each other and to said nonslidable plate.

6. A delivery wagon embodying therein a body having a closed bottom, sides and top, runways extending horizontally from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear of said body, above the bottom and within and yadjacent the opposite sides thereof, means for supporting a load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising a plurality of flat plates slidable upon said runways, cach plate overlappingr and resting upon the adjacent plate' toward the rear'of the wagon, a flat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, and means maintaining said plates respectively in operative relation to each other and to the wagon body, whereby the removal of any of said plates from said body is prevented, but moven'iont of said slidable plates is permitted, the lowermost slidable plate having downturned flanges along the forward and rear edges thereof, said nonslidable plate having two upturned flanges, and the intermediate slidable plate having a downturned flange along the edge thereof towards said nonslidablc plate, and an upturncd flange adjacent the other edge thereof.

7. A delivery wagon embodying therein a body having a closed bottoni, sides and top, runways extending horizontally from adjacent the front to adjacent the rear of said body, above the bottom and within and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, means tor supporting a load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising a plurality of flat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate overlapping and resting upon the adjacent plate toward the rear of the wagon, a flat plate noiislidably supported within the wagon body, and means maintainingr said plates respectively in operative relation to each other and to the wagon body, whereby the removal of any of said plates from said body is prevented, but movement of said slidable plates in relation to each other and to said nonslidable plate is permitted, the lowermost slidable plate having downturned flanges along the forward and rear edges thereof, said nonslidable plate having two upturned flanges, and the intermediate slidable plate having a downturned flange along the edge thereof towards said nonslidable plate, and an upturned flange adjacent the other edge thereof, means whereby said nonslidable plate is hinged in relation to said lll() wagon body, said slidable plates when inoved adjacent said nonslidable plate being inovable therewith about said last nained nieans, and a latch ineniber adapted to hold said plates when the have been inoved about the hinges oil said nonslidable plate.

t5. A delivery wagon einbodying,` therein a body having a closed bottom, sides and top, runways extending horizontally from adjacent the :trout to adjacent the rear of said body, above the bottoni and 'within and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, inea-nst'or supporting a load above the bottom of the wagon body comprising a pliuality of fiat plates slidable upon said runways, each plate overlappinge,r and resting1 upon the adjacent plate toward the rear of the wagon, a tlat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, the loweriuost slidable plate having downturned flanges along' the lorward and rear edges thi-weet, said nonslidable plate having` two upturneiil flanges, and the intermediate slidable plate having` a downturned flange along the edge thereof towards said nonslidable plate, and an upturned Harige adjacent the other edge there of, the downturned flanges on said inovable plates having openings therethrough, a iles:- ible connection secured to the wagon body adjacent the nonslidable plate and. passing through the openings in said flanges respecM tively, and stops carried by said flexible ineniber in engaging relation with said flanges respectively.

9. A delivery wagon embodying, therein a body having a closed bottoni, sides and top, runways extending from adjacent the 'front to adjacent the rear of said body, above the bottoni and within and adjacent the opposite sides thereof, said runways being :torined oil? angle iron, one oi? the fiangfes of which extends horizontally, and the vertical flanges ot which entend beyond, and are turned at an angle across said horizontal flange, means for supporting,` a load above the bottoni ot the wagen body doinprisinn` a plnrality ol fiat plates slidable upon said ii'unways, each plate overlapping and resting` upon the adjacent plate toward the rear of 'the wagon, a flat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, the lowerniost slidable plate having, downturned flanges along; the toi-- ward and rear edges thereof, said nonslidable plate having two upturned flanges, and the intermediate slidable plate having` a downturned flange along' the edge thereof towards said nonslidable plate, and an upturned flange adjacent the other edge thereof, the downturned flanges on said movable piates having` openings therethrough, a flenible connection secured to the wagon body ailjacent the nonslida'ole plate and passing through the openings in said flanges respectively, and stops carried by said flexible nieuiber in engaging relation with said flanges respectively.

l0. A. delivery wagon embodying therein a body having` a closed bottoni, sides and top, runways extendingl troni adjacent the front to adjacent the rear of said body, above the bottoni and within and adjacent the opposite side thereo'l, said. runways bcing` `formed of angle iron, one oit the flanges ot which extends horizontally, and the vcrtical flanges of which extend beyond, and are turned at an angle across said hori Zontal flange, nieans for supporting a load above the bottoni ol the wagon body coinprining; a pliu'ality ot flat plates slidablc uponsaid runways, cach plate overlapping,` and resting upon the adjacent plate toward the rear ot the wagon, a flat plate nonslidably supported within the wagon body, the lowerinost slidable plate having dowliturued flanges along;` the forward and rear edges thereof, said non-slidable plate having two upturned flanges, and the intermediate slidable plate having' ay downturned flange along the edge thereof towards said non-slidable plate, and an upturned flange adjacent the other edge thereof, the downturned flanges on said movable plates having1 openings therethrough, a fiexible connection secured to the wagon body adjacent the non-slidable plate and passing,` through the openings in id fianges respectively, stops carried by said flexible ineinber in engaging relation with said flanges respectively, means wheren by said non-slidable plate is hinged in relation to the wagon body, said flexible nient bei' preventing removal oli said slidable plates and permitting thein to be telescopi-Pd in relation to each other and to said nonslidable plate and a, latch .member to hold said plates when they have been nioved about said last named means.

ln witness whereof I have hereunto affixed iny signature, this Llth day of December.,

CHARLES lV. PEELLE. 

